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A&O Shearman

Winter Vacation Scheme Participant Review

at A&O Shearman

Insight / Vacation Scheme (< 4 Weeks)

Legal/Law

London

Review Submitted: April 2024

Overall Rating

4.9 /5

The Overall Rating is the average of all the ratings given in each category. We take those individual ratings and combine them into one final score!

5/5 - Overview of Experience
5/5 - Skills Development
4.8/5 - Company Culture
5/5 - Overall Experience
5/5 - Recommendations and Advice

Overview of Experience

Please give an overview of the insight and what was involved on a day-to-day basis.
Overall, it was highly informative. Each day differed massively but commonly I shadowed trainees in the intellectual property team of the litigation department and reported back to my supervisor. I assisted the trainees with copyright and trademark tasks and I joined meetings with intellectual property lawyers across the world. Every day I attended an hour-long information session in the morning about different sectors at the firm like banking, corporate and capital markets.
What was it like understanding all about the business and potential roles available?
The firm made information about all the potential roles easily accessible as they created many opportunities to speak with trainees who were in various seats. I attended seminars everyday for an hour where different trainees and seminars clearly explained how they obtained their roles and their motivations for being in their areas. Also, my supervisor openly explained the process for attaining roles in intellectual property which furthered my understanding of all the potential roles available.
Please rate how insightful you found the insight
5/5
How would you rate the structure of the insight
5/5

Skills Development

Have you learnt any new skills or developed existing skills?
I developed my evaluation skills because I had many tasks that involved reading over intellectual property infringement policies for different companies and comparing them. Therefore, I also developed my ability to pay very close attention to detail and my critical thinking because I had to weigh up the strengths and weaknesses of the policies and inform my supervisor and the trainees of any opportunities or threats that I believed could emerge from the policies.
How would you rate the training provided during your experience?
5/5
How would you rate the knowledge learned around industry-specific skills during the experience?
5/5
How would you rate the knowledge learned around personal or professional skills during the experience?
5/5
Please rate how the knowledge learned has helped you with regards to your career development
5/5

Company Culture

How would you rate business leader involvement during the insight
5/5
What was the company culture and general atmosphere like?
The atmosphere was very friendly and open because the intellectual property department was structured so that 2-4 lawyers shared an office which created ample opportunities to talk to new people and feel very welcomed.
How would you rate the inclusiveness of the culture?
5/5
How would you rate the networking opportunities?
4/5
Please rate how valued you felt during your insight?
5/5

Overall Experience

To what extent did you enjoy the insight?
I strongly enjoyed the insight because I got to feel very involved with the intellectual property team. I got the opportunity to spend the day with the intellectual property lawyers in court with the barristers which was a unique insight because I got to see how lawyers operate outside the office.
Please rate your level of enjoyment on the insight
5/5
Please rate how your experience met your expectations
5/5
Were you paid or reimbursed adequately for this experience?
I was paid and reimbursed expenses

Recommendations and Advice

Please rate the future employment prospects at A&O Shearman
5/5
Would you recommend A&O Shearman to a friend?
Yes
What tips or advice would you give to others applying to A&O Shearman
I would encourage them to make sure that their work experience section of the application is well-detailed and carefully structured so that the firm can clearly see not just the tasks you did, but also the experience and skills you gained/ developed from your work experience. And then make sure to explain how those skills would make you suitable for A&O. Following a clear structure will make it more apparent why you are suitable.
In This Review
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